How to catch black snake thats eating chicks?

[Kennas_Kritters]

I went to check on my 8 chicks this morning and noticed that there were only 6 chicks. I searched everywhere and couldn't find them. Later today I went behind the shed that they are in and there was a black snake sitting right behind it. We have snakes bad here. I don't want to kill a black snake but it's killing my chicks! We had one yesterday sitting behind my other chick pen and when I looked at it it bowed up at me. It's a dead snake now. I like snakes that keep pests away but I don't like when a snake becomes the pest. ;-; Is there any way I can trap it? If not.... how can I kill it? Again I don't want to kill it if I don't have to but I don't have many options...

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

How old are your chicks, and what type of housing are they currently kept in? Snakes are a huge issue for me too. The only sure way ive found to keep chicks safe is to house them in a cage or pen completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth. I also make sure snakes cant slither under the bottom of the pen. I've been surprised in the past how little space a copperhead or ratsnake needs to gain access. A one inch space or gap is plenty large enough for a hungry 6-foot ratsnake .

 

[Kennas_Kritters]

How old are your chicks, and what type of housing are they currently kept in? Snakes are a huge issue for me too. The only sure way ive found to keep chicks safe is to house them in a cage or pen completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth. I also make sure snakes cant slither under the bottom of the pen. I've been surprised in the past how little space a copperhead or ratsnake needs to gain access. A one inch space or gap is plenty large enough for a hungry 6-foot ratsnake .

They are only a few days old. They are in a shed with chicken wire over the front where the door was. They are inside of a big black plastic koi pond thing. I didn't think a snake would be brave enough to slither past my emu's but I guess they are!

 

[McChooky]

Make a trap out of minnow traps or put bird netting around your pens.If a large snake is caught up in the netting it will have to be cut loose or it will die. Release or destroy.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I went to check on my 8 chicks this morning and noticed that there were only 6 chicks. I searched everywhere and couldn't find them. Later today I went behind the shed that they are in and there was a black snake sitting right behind it. We have snakes bad here. I don't want to kill a black snake but it's killing my chicks! We had one yesterday sitting behind my other chick pen and when I looked at it it bowed up at me. It's a dead snake now. I like snakes that keep pests away but I don't like when a snake becomes the pest. ;-; Is there any way I can trap it? If not.... how can I kill it? Again I don't want to kill it if I don't have to but I don't have many options...

Just grab it and chop it’s head off. Easy peasy.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

A 410ga works wonders for snakes and others ... but you gonna have to kill a lot of snakes before the baby chicks get grown. It would be a lot easier to just upgrade your brooder housing, as stated above, and leave the snakes alone. A snake is a little slow, but he will soon figure out that the easy meals have gone.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Bird netting over the top of the container should work. I would personally use 1/2" hardware cloth over the top just to be sure. I also temporarily suggest relocating the chicks inside your house until you can get a protective cover. I caught three very large ratsnakes in my nestboxes just last week, all well over 5 ft long. They come for eggs and chicks & follow each other's scent trail too, especially this time of year. I would take action immediately, otherwise by tomorrow morn you may have no chicks left.

 

[cmom]

I made a cage with hardware cloth to put my chicks in so that snakes and rodents can't get to them. 2'x2'x2'. I put a tray underneath that I put shavings in and their poop goes through the wire.

 

[McChooky]

I tolerate no predators around my chickens regardless of their role in the ecosystem.Fence them out with 1/2" hardware cloth or you will have many losses.No snake is your friend.